More real to me

One year ago my sister in law (most importantly.... my sister in Christ) went to be with Jesus in Paradise. I wrote a bit about that and what I had learned from the days that followed here... "The things I haven't said".

A lot has changed since then, her son... Dylan now lives in California with his dad, Rex, and we talk to him occasionally over the phone or the internet or through email. We have since formed a good (albeit long distance) relationship with Rex's family, and follow two of his sister's excellent blogs here and here.
Our family has also had a fairly big addition (just under 7 lbs)... click here.

I can not say that we have come to grips with losing Tonya. I still have a hard time talking about her, or even thinking about her without crying like a schoolgirl.

But as I think of Tonya now in the presence of Jesus... heaven is more real to me. There has not been a single instance over this past year that I have read or heard a passage of scripture concerning heaven that I have not thought about Tonya being there, not a single instance where I have sung a song about heaven and what is going on there now, that I have not pictured the reality of Tonya being there right then at that very moment participating in the very thick of the greatest praise she has ever known. Don't worry, I am not placing undo importance of Tonya being there, over and above the fact that Jesus is there, I am not saying heaven is a "better place"because she is there or anything like that... I am just saying that when the reality and hurt of Tonya not being here hits me sometimes... it does not compare to the reality and joy of knowing that she is presently experiencing no more pain, no more tears, no more heartache, no more struggle... just glorious praise in a chorus of angels and saints that have gone before.

Beth's post today... Peach Cobbler
Sarah's post today... One year later...